Spring break is starting off on a sour note for one of UA’s largest fraternities, as the Gamma-Rho chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity had their recognition revoked by the university.
“”We received notice this week that the university has removed recognition”” said Mitchell Wilson, executive director of Kappa Sigma National Fraternity Organization.
“”We got a call (from the UA) last week receiving a heads up that the decision was coming, at which point we informed our members earlier this week,”” he said.
Wilson said the first action plan will be appealing the university’s decision.
There are two ways a chapter can lose their charter or campus recognition: either by university decision or by the national headquarters of the fraternity organization, Wilson said.
“”It is a university action to withdrawal recognition,”” Wilson said. “”We have every intention to make an appeal and we are currently in that process now.””
Kappa Sigma, with around 140 current active members, will likely take action in the university appeal process in an effort to bring back the fraternity in three years, instead of waiting the minimum five.
Normally, when a greek organization falls into similar circumstance and loses recognition, the chapter will be removed from campus for a minimum of five years, said UA Kappa Sigma president Bryan Nagy. He said his goal is to decrease the amount of time the chapter is removed from campus.
“”We would like to decrease the time off campus from five to three years so that our freshman will be seniors if and when Kappa Sigma is re-installed,”” Nagy said.
The national headquarters, located in Charlottesville, Va. said they have been reviewing the behavior of UA active members in recent years.
“”Since last spring, the national organization has conducted an extensive membership review with the chapters and several (UA) members were removed from membership,”” Wilson said.
The Gamma-Rho chapter was placed under ‘trustee’ status, meaning Kappa Sigma had been suspended by the national organization for almost a year now, he said.
“”We had a group of alumni who were working very extensively and aggressively with the chapter to make and take corrective action in regard to their operations,”” Wilson said.
He was happy to report last semester that the men of Kappa Sigma had made significant progress in doing so, prior to the events that caused the recent revocation.
“”I think that the university’s decision goes back to previous infractions in which we have already started working to correct,”” Wilson said.
Nagy explained that the most recent decision was not based off of one specific incident.
“”They have kept a list of things against us for a few years now,”” he said.
Nagy said that the national headquarters for the fraternity organization had things on their radar since he was a freshman, due to past seniors.
“”We will appeal the decision while we continue to respect the university. We have worked closely with them since this chapter was founded (in May of 1915) and have a great deal of alumni that we represent the interest of. We are taking all of that into consideration,”” Wilson said.
Kappa Sigma fraternity, located at 2660 N. 1st Ave., will remain a house for the active brothers of Kappa Sigma for the duration of the spring semester, Nagy said.
“”After this spring, it’s up to the housing group to decide what will take place for the fall,”” Nagy said.
As of right now, Nagy said the chapter and the young men will still be around to wear the letters of Kappa Sigma fraternity, they hope for the best during the appeal process in order to get the charter back on campus sooner rather than later.
Greek life offices and the Dean of Students office did not return calls for comment.
